Bearing stress pad for beds, or the like

ABSTRACT

A basket-weave matrix of flat strips having at least buttonholes at the intersections of the strips on the outer rows of the matrix and having extensions at both ends of said strips which are adapted to bend upward and downward forming enclosures for a top and a bottom mattress. The pad is placed over the bottom mattress with alternate juxtaposed strips of the matrix having downstanding tabs forming an enclosure for the bottom mattress and the remaining juxtaposed strips being upstanding and forming an enclosure for the upper mattress. The outside surfaces of the tabs may have buttons to receive buttonholes on the periphery of a covering sheet. Optionally, a supporting structure has rows of studs with buttons on the ends thereof, and the upstanding and downstanding tabs have clearance holes through which the studs penetrate allowing the button on the end of the stud to penetrate a pair of strips at the intersection thereof on the outer rows of the matrix. If desired, additional studs may be inserted between overlapping strips at each of the intersections thereof.

United States Patent [191 Schuder June 25, 1974 BEARING STRESS PAD FOR BEDS, OR THE LIKE [76] Inventor: Paul S. Schuder, Rt. 1, Box 1155,

Woodland, Calif. 95695 [22] Filed: June 25, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 373,379

[52] U.S. Cl 5/317 R, 5/322, 5/354, 5/236 [51] Int. Cl A47c 7/08, A47c 21/00 [58] Field of Search ..5/186,191, 200, 317, 331, 5/345 R, 351, 354: 297/452, D16. 1; 2481345.]

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 264,641 9/1882 Dunks et a1 ...5/191 UX 674,721 5/1901 Wright 5/186 R 1,953,303 4/1934 Kohlmann 108/51 UX 2,384,097 9/1945 Klazkin 5/345 R 2,616,100 11/1952 Weiner 1 1 5/354 X 2,630,587 3/1953 Brown 5/345 R Primary ExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ernest L. Brown [5 7] ABSTRACT A basket-weave matrix of flat strips having at least buttonholes at the intersections of the strips on the outer rows of the matrix and having extensions at both ends of said strips which are adapted to bend upward and downward forming enclosures for a top and a bottom mattress. The pad is placed over the bottom mattress with alternate juxtaposed strips of the matrix having downstanding tabs forming an enclosure for the bottom mattress and the remaining juxtaposed strips being upstanding and forming an enclosure for the upper mattress. The outside surfaces of the tabs may have buttons to receive buttonholes on the periphery of a covering sheet. Optionally, a supporting structure has rows of studs with buttons on the ends thereof, and the upstanding and downstanding tabs have clearance holes through which the studs penetrate allowing the button on the end of the stud to penetrate a pair of strips at the intersection thereof on the outer rows of the matrix. If desired, additional studs may be inserted between overlapping strips at each of the intersections thereof.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 l' l l ll X1 l I 1o llll PATENTED JUH25 I974 SHEET 1 OF 2 BEARING STRESS PAD FOR BEDS, OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When two mattresses lie on top of one another, or a mattress lies on a boxspring, and a person lies on the top mattress, the point bearing stresses are transmitted into the bottom mattress or boxspring from the top mattress to cause the entire mattress combination to sag excessively. For example, while a light person lying alone on such a bed causes the mattress to sag only a little, when a heavy person lies on the bed with the light person, the heavy person creates a depression which causes the light person to roll or slide into the depression.

To minimize mattress sag, the pad of this invention is placed between a pair of stacked mattresses to distribute the bearing stress delivered from the top mattress to the bottom mattress. The basket-weave matrix of the pad of this invention may be of flexible material so that part of the bearing stress is delivered through the pad and part of it is distributed.

The pad is preferably a basket-weave matrix of substantially flat strips of partly flexible material such as rubber,-plastics, and the like. The ends of the strips are adapted to be bent upward and downward to fomi an enclosure for upper and lower mattresses or boxsprings, whereby the mattresses are both enclosed and centered. inwardly from the bending line of the juxtaposed strips is an optional row of buttonholes for receiving buttons or studs. These buttonholes are at the intersection of the strips on the outer rows of the matrix. Clearance holes are formed through the upstanding and downstanding end portions of the strips to allow the shank of a stud to extend therethrough and to engage the buttonholes. The other end of the shank of the stud is typically supported by a frame which is upstanding from the floor or a wall bed. The studs engaging the buttonholes give at least a partial support to the pad, whereby the bearing stresses delivered to the bottom mattress are further reduced.

Typically alternate ones of the juxtaposed strips extending outward from the pad are bent upward and downward.

Further, the remainder of the intersections of the basket-weave matrix of strips may have holes formed in them and buttons, studs or rivets positioned in such holes to limit the criss-crossed strips from sliding relative to each other and to further distribute bearing stresses.

The purpose of my invention is to produce a light, simple, versatile sleeping unit that will be more com fortable than any now in use.

My invention consists of a flexible pad which, when positioned between two resilient pads of proper thickness and hardness, produces a sleeping unit that assumes the virtues of a conventional mattress and boxsprings plus some qualities all its own.

This mattress is designed to be used on any flat surface such as the floor, a bench or bunk, or an ordinary bed frame if a solid surface such as a sheet of plywood of ample length and width is provided. The pad may be made of woven cord, straps, or webbing of flexible material of sufficient thickness and resistance to redistribute the weight put upon it by a person resting or sleeping thereon.

The pad shown is made of webbing. Each strap is preferably connected to all cross straps except the outer rows of straps with loose rivets, and it is sewed or glued to the outer row. The straps have an extension beyond the mat. The extensions are folded at substantially a angle alternately up and down the outside of the enclosed mattress or boxsprings giving strength and stability to the sidewalls of the mattresses or boxsprings.

Also on the pad are grommets at each webbing crossover in the outer rows to attach the mattress to a frame with lacing or special connectors if it is to be used for a special purpose such as on a wall bed, or if it is to be used by a person that requires a special sleeping surface because of an injury or weakness. Buttons may be used to attach a bed sheet to the pad. The buttons and a special sheet would be required if the mattress was tied in such a manner that a sheet could not be tucked under. The outside surfaces of the upstanding and downstanding tabs may have buttons thereon to receive buttonholes on the periphery of a covering sheet. Alternatively, the outside surfaces of the tabs may have buttonholes to receive buttons on the periphery of a covering sheet.

It is therefore an object of this invention to support a mattress.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel bearing stress pad for mattresses.

It is still a further object of this invention to distribute bearing stresses between a pair of stacked mattresses.

It'is also a further object of this invention to distribute bearing stresses between a mattress and a boxspring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of two mattresses with the pad of this invention between.

FIG. 2 is a side view of two mattresses with the pad of this invention therebetween.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a typical pad in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 4 is a view, partly in section, taken at 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the attachment of a typical supporting stud to the pad of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of mattresses 10 and '12 are stacked on top of each other with the pad 14 of this invention therebetween. The mattress 10 may be a boxspring, butwill be referred to herein as a mattress. The periphery of the pad 14 comprises a plurality of juxtaposed strips 16-38 with alternate ones of said strips on each side bent upward to form an enclosure for the top mattress l2 and the remaining strips bent downward to form an enclosure for the bottom mattress l0. That is, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ends of the strips 16, 20, 24 and 28 on one side of the mattress and the strips 30, 34 and 38 on a second side of the mattress are bent downward to form an enclosure for the bottom mattress 10. The strips 18, 22 and 26 on one side of the mattress and the ends of the strips 32 and 36 on the second side of the mattress are bent upward to form an enclosure for the top mattress 12. The bottom mattress l0 lies on a hard surface such as the ground 40 or the floor of a building. It may also rest on a conventional bed base.

The pad 14 which is positioned between the mattresses and 12 comprises a plurality of substantially flat,-preferably resilient, strips which are formed into a basket weave as shown particularly in FIG. 3. In a preferred embodiment the criss-crossed strips are riveted together at their intersection as shown, typically, by the rivets 42, 44, to prevent relative sliding between the strips and to redistribute the bearing stresses applied to the pad 14. A section taken at 4-4 is shown in FIG. 4.

To allow the basket-weave matrix 14 to be supported, a plurality of holes for receiving supporting studs are positioned in the strips 16-38 on the outer rows thereof. These holes are shown at 46-62 in FIG. 3.

The strips 16-38 are adapted to be bent upward and downward as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at the edges of the matrix of the basket weave article 14. That is, strips 16-38 are adapted to be bent upward or downward at the fold lines 70-90. To that end, the material of the strips 16-38 in the region of the fold lines 70-90 may be fabricated of metal or of a setting plastic such as a thermosetting plastic. The outer ends of the strips or tabs may be of lighter weight than the strips of the matrix and are typically glued to the mattresses.

When the tabs of the strips 16-38 are bent upward and downward as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a stud or hook 100 as'shown in FIG. 5 may be buttoned into the holes 40-62. The stud 100 typically has a curved shank 102 which is supported by a stand or fixture I04 (partly shown in FIG. 5) to support or partly support the pad 14. The fixture 104 may, optionally, be a wall bed. Clearance holes 106-124 allow the shank 102 and the stud 100 to be supported by the fixture or stand 104 external to the mattresses and the strips 16-38 while engaging the holes or buttonholes 40-62 as shown in FIG. 5.

In operation, the bearing pad of this invention may be used with the studs 100 as shown in FIG. 5 to give the pad partial support or without the studs as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The upstanding and downstanding strips shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 form an enclosure for a pair of stacked mattresses, and the pad of this invention distributes the bearing stress so that when one lies on the top mattress, the stress is re-distributed over the bottom mattress, which produces stronger support for heavier persons, reducing sag.

When the pad 14 is supported by studs such as stud 100, the entire load may be taken by the studs through the bearing pad 14, and the top mattress may be placed on top of the bearing pad 14 without a mattress undern'eath. Alternatively, a portion of the bearing stress may be absorbed by the studs 100 with the remainder of the support delivered to the pad 14 from the bottom mattress which may be sitting on the floor or on a conventional mattress frame, or the like.

The outer surfaces of the upstanding and downstanding tabs of the strips 16-38 may have buttons or studs 200-208 to which a covering sheet 220 may be attached by buttonholes 230 on their outer periphery. Alternatively, the buttons may be on the sheet and the buttonholes on the strips 16-38.

Thus, the bearing pad of this invention is a novel bearing pad which is designed to be placed between a pair of mattresses to receive the bearing stress delivered from the top mattress and to redistribute such bearing stresses over the top of the bottom mattress.

Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is not intended that the invention should be limited by that description, but only in accordance with that description when taken together with the wording of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In combination:

a plurality of juxtaposed strips interwoven into a hasket weave matrix of overlapping strips;

each of said strips extending beyond said matrix of overlapping strips at the four sides of said matrix, a portion of said strips bending upward at fold lines from the edges of said matrix;

a first plurality of holes formed in said strips at the in tersections of said matrix on the outer rows of said matrix, each said hole being of sufiicient size and shape to receive a stud;

a second plurality of clearance holes formed into said strips, one at each end thereof substantially on said fold lines and ofsufficient size substantially to clear said studs and to allow said studs to penetrate therethrough into said first plurality of holes.

2. An article as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a pair of mattresses, one of which is supported between said upwardly bent ends of said strips by said matrix of strips and the other of which is enclosed between said downwardly bent ends of said strips to support said matrix of strips, said strips being flexible with a predetermined degree of resiliency to cause said matrix of strips to act as a bearing pad between said mattresses.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein the bottom said mattress rests upon a supporting surface and said matrix of overlapping strips partly supports said top mattress and partly delivers bearing stress to said bottom mattress.

4. An article as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of studs each having a shank (102) with a substantially ninety degree turn therein. positioned around the periphery of said matrix, each of said studs penetrating through one of said second plurality of clearance holes and fastening into said overlapping holes of said first plurality of holes to support said matrix.

5. An item as recited in claim 4 and further comprising means for supporting said studs.

6. In combination: a plurality of juxtaposed strips interwoven into a basket weave matrix of overlapping strips;

each of said strips extending beyond said matrix of overlapping strips at the four sides of said matrix and being adapted to bend upward and downward from the edges of said matrix;

a plurality of holes formed in said strips at the intersections of said matrix at least on the outer rows of said matrix, each said hole being of sufficient size and shape to receive a stud;

a second plurality of holes formed into said strips at opposite ends thereof of sufficient size to clear said studs and to allow said studs to penetrate therethrough into said first plurality of holes;

a plurality of studs each having a shank and a substantially ninety degree turn therein, positioned around the periphery of said matrix, each of said studs penetrating through one of said second plurality of clearance holes and fastening into the overlapping holes of said first plurality of holes to support said matrix;

and connectors inserted between said strips at said intersections of said matrix to limit relative motion between said strips.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 and further comprising a pair of mattresses, one positioned under said matrix and the other positioned above said matrix, said strips being alternately bent upward and downward to form enclosures for said top and bottom mattresses.

8. The combination recited in claim 7 in which said bottom mattress is supported on a firm surface, and said matrix acts as a bearing pad between said top and bottom mattresses to distribute stress delivered to it by said top mattress.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a plurality of studs positioned on the outer surfaces of the ends of said upstanding and downstanding tabs.

10. An item as recited in claim 9 and further comprising a bed sheet having a plurality of buttonholes therein, positioned and sized to engage said last named studs on said upstanding and downstanding tabs. 

1. In combination: a plurality of juxtaposed strips interwoven into a basket wEave matrix of overlapping strips; each of said strips extending beyond said matrix of overlapping strips at the four sides of said matrix, a portion of said strips bending upward at fold lines from the edges of said matrix; a first plurality of holes formed in said strips at the intersections of said matrix on the outer rows of said matrix, each said hole being of sufficient size and shape to receive a stud; a second plurality of clearance holes formed into said strips, one at each end thereof substantially on said fold lines and of sufficient size substantially to clear said studs and to allow said studs to penetrate therethrough into said first plurality of holes.
 2. An article as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a pair of mattresses, one of which is supported between said upwardly bent ends of said strips by said matrix of strips and the other of which is enclosed between said downwardly bent ends of said strips to support said matrix of strips, said strips being flexible with a predetermined degree of resiliency to cause said matrix of strips to act as a bearing pad between said mattresses.
 3. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein the bottom said mattress rests upon a supporting surface and said matrix of overlapping strips partly supports said top mattress and partly delivers bearing stress to said bottom mattress.
 4. An article as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of studs (100) each having a shank (102) with a substantially ninety degree turn therein, positioned around the periphery of said matrix, each of said studs penetrating through one of said second plurality of clearance holes and fastening into said overlapping holes of said first plurality of holes to support said matrix.
 5. An item as recited in claim 4 and further comprising means for supporting said studs.
 6. In combination: a plurality of juxtaposed strips interwoven into a basket weave matrix of overlapping strips; each of said strips extending beyond said matrix of overlapping strips at the four sides of said matrix and being adapted to bend upward and downward from the edges of said matrix; a plurality of holes formed in said strips at the intersections of said matrix at least on the outer rows of said matrix, each said hole being of sufficient size and shape to receive a stud; a second plurality of holes formed into said strips at opposite ends thereof of sufficient size to clear said studs and to allow said studs to penetrate therethrough into said first plurality of holes; a plurality of studs each having a shank and a substantially ninety degree turn therein, positioned around the periphery of said matrix, each of said studs penetrating through one of said second plurality of clearance holes and fastening into the overlapping holes of said first plurality of holes to support said matrix; and connectors inserted between said strips at said intersections of said matrix to limit relative motion between said strips.
 7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 and further comprising a pair of mattresses, one positioned under said matrix and the other positioned above said matrix, said strips being alternately bent upward and downward to form enclosures for said top and bottom mattresses.
 8. The combination recited in claim 7 in which said bottom mattress is supported on a firm surface, and said matrix acts as a bearing pad between said top and bottom mattresses to distribute stress delivered to it by said top mattress.
 9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a plurality of studs positioned on the outer surfaces of the ends of said upstanding and downstanding tabs.
 10. An item as recited in claim 9 and further comprising a bed sheet having a plurality of buttonholes therein, positioned and sized to engage said last named studs on said upstanding and downstanding tabs. 